midnightmover said:

yes, I'm curious too. These accusations should be backed up with facts.

I remember the first time I heard this track while sitting on a train in Germany. It blew my MIND!!!

First, for a man to be singing about being a girlfriend was out of this world. Role reversal in the '80's, that was some forward thinking there. Second, the composition and musical freakiness was just too cool.

There has never been another track quite like it!

"For you, naked, I would dance a ballet" man, that is some otherworldly iSht right there. What mind-set are you in to compose that?

Love it!!!

This for me Is what Prince is all about! It is an absolutly fabulouse song which is unriveled by his piers. The best thing he ever wrote? so far!!

I love it too, mary j blige and the like definitely tried to recreate this song. I first heard the cover of it on tlc's crazysexycool album when i was a kid and was surprised to see the prince credit on it, but had thought prince wrote it for them without realizing it was his right away.

the 'let me cook you breakfast' and those lines made me laugh out so loud cause they were so weird and goofy, but it worked so well!

Rightly said:

Going out on a serious limb here (because I DON'T believe there's anything "stolen") but there are teensy similarities to Mtume's Juicy Fruit. Mind you I am a Prince fan with NO MUSICAL TALENT PERSONALLY So I am probably wrong but...

One of my top fav Prince songs!

Mtume's Juicy Fruit.....

http://www.youtube.com/wa...SuWScTLuaA

If Prince did 'steal' any of it then hey, I still admire his concept and lyrics

eman said:

That's it??? Help me out here. The lyrics, melody and arrangement sound totally different to me. It's a totally different song. We were told Prince stole IIWYG "note for note" from this. Seems like yet another example of someone taking advantage of their online anonymity to talk utter shit.

He sang it on the opening night (1 Aug). Awesome.
By the way, when Beyonce/Destiny's Child sang their cover of it, did they understand the song at all? I guess not.

And now a bit of trivia - if I'm not mistaken, this was the only song from SOTT that he didn't perform in his SOTT Tour. Can you correct me if I'm wrong on that....Thx

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the TLC version...

By the way, one of P's ten best songs of his career...

I think the production on this was very influential
in terms of modern r&b...

I'm so glad somone opened a thread on this track - because for me this is the absolute best song on the planet - EVER!

It's so beautiful and haunting, obsessive and heartfelt and it gives me chills every time I hear it (in a good way mind!)

I think that this is the epitome of Prince's musical, composition and lyrical genius

He played this at the 11th Aug concert, which I was at and I have to say that I nearly wet myself! BUT... I actually prefer the recorded version, which is surely blasphame or herasy or something! There are tonnes of tracks that sound better live, but for me 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' is best on the CD. Sorry... am I about to be flambe'd for that comment?

TLC murdered it - full stop.

And which total prick at Warner Bros thought it'd be a good idea to shorten it by taking out the pleading at the end for the Hits album???!! (Cue someone telling me that it was, in fact Prince's idea to cut the end...)

MrsGoodnight said:

Some songs definitely sound better live, and some sound better as studio versions...this one is better in studio quality because of all the different details, the small little things he´s added in between etc.
Though I must admit that I also like the pseudo-live version from the movie a lot.

MrsGoodnight said:

Mrs.Goodnight, you're so cool... next time I cross the pond we should have tea or something...

C'mon, the TLC cover is not that bad...

Juicy Fruit & If I Was Your Girlfriend don't sound anything alike

BEAUGARDE said:

Oh, I love that gum.

RenHoek said:

Ren, You're ON! Let me know when and I'll put the kettle on

Amazing song that I must have played more than 400 times during 1987. Love the song so much!

eman said:

Thanks for posting the link.
I listened to it and...

Oh, Come on...

If this is stealing we should get rid of every rock/pop album production after Elvis Preasley. ;->

About 'If I Was Your Girlfriend'. It's a masterpiece and I think it could win a poll as Prince's best song ever (at least if the poll is only for those who know all his production and not just the hits)

KoolEaze said:

I think the studio version is just perfect... the level of intensity, particularly towards the end, and its' 'otherworldliness'...

But that version in the SOTT movie... I feel like I've died and gone to heaven each time I hear that.

Joyinrepatition said:

True! Whenever writers try to define Prince this song should be referenced. It's pure psychological-sexual brilliance. The great writer/professor/social critic bell hooks teaches/analyzes this song in her feminist gender classes.

Brilliant - almost maddeningly so. The social climate at the time just didn't allow for a song like this to be a hit. I remember being in NYC when the single was released, and KISS-FM taking calls to "kiss it or diss it." It was mostly dissed, with one female caller saying "..if he wants to be gay, why go making records about it that we have to hear."
Too bad - this is one of his most intensely pro-female songs ...

JoeTyler said:

i think its actually pretty good.its got the bottom end that the sott's version is missing lol

Christopher said:

Don't get me wrong - I've always liked TLC - but I just don't like their version of it, it grates me

You just can't mess with a track that is so perfect...

ginosascaggagracci said:

Yes, Brilliant Feminist Anthem and gender mind f@#k. The great writer/theorist/feminist thinker bell hooks teaches/analyzes this genius song in her gender studies classes. I wish P's current music was this complicated, wierd, romantic, wonderful and introspective. I guess it is unfair to compare one of the most artistically creative periods in the life of one of the greatest songwriters.

BEAUGARDE said:

No no no! You'll have to pick up the Mtume lps. Can't remember the name of the tune. I'm sure you can find them on Amazon. I remember when my buddy and I first heard it we were like damn!!! He didn't even bother to change the music..LOL!!!

Prince already having a crossover audience that remotely knows anything at all about Mtume would never even have a clue.
[Edited 9/3/07 19:55pm]

BmoreJazz said:

AFTER Elvis Presley?? Didn't Elvis steal songs from the black per4mers of his time???